A Tribute To John Murphy (1942-2026)

As you may have already heard, StockCharts' former Chief Technical Analyst, and a personal friend, passed away last month. It’s hard to put into words what John J. Murphy meant to me, to StockCharts, and to the entire technical analysis community.

John was one of the most influential voices in modern technical analysis. His book, Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets, sits on countless desks around the world, including mine. For many of us, it was our introduction to charting done right. For some, it was the spark that turned an interest in markets into a lifelong career.

But beyond his accomplishments, John was generous with his time, thoughtful in his analysis, and unwavering in his commitment to professionalism and education.

A Leader at StockCharts

I first met John and his colleague Greg Morris, both with MurphyMorris.com at the time, at a Money Show conference just after launching StockCharts.com in 1999. From that meeting, a long partnership with John blossomed, most notably with him serving as Chief Technical Analyst at StockCharts for more than 15 years. During that time, he became a trusted voice for our members and a steady presence for our entire organization.

His work carried clarity, historical perspective, and discipline. He had a remarkable ability to filter out short-term noise and focus on what really mattered: the primary trend, the weight of the evidence, and the intermarket relationships that help investors understand the bigger picture.

Having John in that leadership role elevated StockCharts. His standards were high, and he led by example.

A Voice Recognized Around the World

John’s influence extended far beyond our company. As a former CNBC analyst, he helped bring technical analysis into millions of homes, explaining charts in a way that was accessible without being simplistic.

He championed intermarket analysis and helped investors understand how stocks, bonds, commodities, and currencies interact. Today, that cross-market perspective is second nature to many analysts in no small part because of John’s work.

He also devoted significant energy to education and to supporting the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) program, helping strengthen the professional foundation of our field.

 Reflections from the Industry

We invited friends, colleagues, and members of the technical analysis community to share their memories and reflections on John. Below are selected tributes that we received:

"Many will remember John for his boundless impact on the world of technical analysis and the influence he had on so many of us as a teacher, a mentor, and an inspiring thought leader. But for me, it’s John’s immeasurable impact on our StockCharts.com organization that will forever hold a special place in my heart. John was part of our family - a cornerstone of what made StockCharts such a unique offering in this industry, sharing his voice and unparalleled market insights with a vast community of traders and investors across the globe week in and week out. For those of us here at StockCharts who had the unique pleasure of working side-by-side with John for decades, he brought a guiding presence and wisdom that truly shaped our journey as a company. I will feel eternally honored and profoundly grateful to have learned from John as both an analyst and a colleague, and I take great comfort in knowing that his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of technical analysts for decades to come."
- Grayson Roze, Chief Strategist at StockCharts.com

“My first memories of John at a luncheon were at an MTA (now CMT) conference in the early 1980’s. We struck an instant friendship that has lasted ever since. Prentice Hall, the publisher of Technical Analysis of the Futures Markets asked if I would be willing to take a look at the book and offer some comments. I was happy to do so until I started reading it and quickly realized that it was going to ace my own, Technical Analysis Explained. His was a truly great book and deservedly went on to be a global bestseller. He was a great teacher, broadcaster, and market analyst, but John was also a great innovator, developing and popularizing the concept of Intermarket Analysis. The last time I saw him was at a StockCharts conference where we were both on a panel, doing what we both loved to do—trade insults at each other. To me, and I am sure John, being able to respectfully and in good humor trade barbs is a sign of a great friendship. Godspeed John, you will be greatly missed.”
- Martin Pring, Pring Research

“John Murphy had an enormous influence on my understanding of technical analysis. I devoured his books, followed his research, and had the privilege of working alongside him at StockCharts. John was a great communicator who made complex subjects easy to understand. He had a great sense of humor and was always welcoming. RIP...John”
- Arthur Hill, TrendInvestorPro.com

"It’s rare to have known a true giant in one’s field of endeavor. To say that John Murphy had a profound influence on my career is a gigantic understatement. Four personal remembrances come to mind:

• John’s definitive book on technical analysis of the stock market was my Bible when I studied for my CMT exams in the early 1990s.  It remains a true classic today, and it sits prominently on the shelf beside my desk. 
• John graciously agreed to come to San Francisco in 1995 to be the keynote speaker at the TSAA’s annual conference, which I was organizing.  His presence there attracted nearly 300 attendees. Such was his sterling reputation. 
• I vividly recall John mentoring me early on—saying that “teaching others will make you a much better investor.” How true. With his advice in mind, I ended up teaching college for more than 20 years. 
• Lastly, John read the manuscript for Tensile Trading, the book that Grayson and I wrote together, and he offered to write a glowing endorsement on the book jacket. His praise meant the world to both of us.

John has gone from sight now, but what he gave us lives on in every CMT. He touched so many of us, and we are all the better for it. I know that I am. He’ll be deeply missed."
- Gatis Roze, Author of Tensile Trading

"John Murphy played a prominent role in legitimizing technical analysis and bringing it to a broader audience. His presentations on various financial networks and StockCharts.com went a long way in preparing the ground that many of us would subsequently work to our advantage. I was fortunate to have met him once, and he was a real gentleman."
- Carl Swenlin, DecisionPoint.com

“John Murphy was far more than a renowned “tech titan” in the world of financial markets—he was an extraordinarily generous soul who gave freely of his time and wisdom. I’ll always cherish the memory of sitting beside him in the back row during a presentation, where he patiently walked me through both the strengths and the shortcomings of the analysis, helping me truly grasp the deeper layers behind the charts and numbers. Thank you, John, for being such an exceptional teacher, mentor, and genuinely wonderful human being. Your kindness and insight will be deeply missed.”
- Erin Swenlin, DecisionPoint.com

Video tributes:

On a personal level, I’m grateful for John’s friendship, his guidance, and the integrity he brought to everything he did. He made all of us better analysts, and he made our community stronger.

We will miss him deeply, and we will continue to build on the foundation he helped create.

Godspeed, John.

Chip Anderson
President, StockCharts.com